Help us recognize the impact of SNAP Education. Share how SNAP Ed has built a healthier Minnesota.
Research, Reports and Evaluation
This page includes reports, fact sheets and dashboards providing program statistics, performance metrics and information about individuals participating in Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and other cash, food and employment programs that support the economic well-being of Minnesotans. Find reports and briefs that highlight areas of concern for Minnesotans experiencing economic hardship, as well as innovative efforts to transform service delivery.
Initiatives
Initiative reports include learnings from sustained, coordinated efforts across state and federal agencies, community partners and other program areas within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. These efforts support the economic well-being of families in Minnesota and aim to transform the way services are delivered.
The Research Team partnered with The Department of Revenue to help educate and inform families about the Minnesota Child Tax Credit.
The Research Team helped analyze the impact that receiving advance payments would have on SNAP families' benefit amounts and eligibility. The team learned that very few households would see an increase in income that would result in a loss of SNAP eligibility, but most households that chose the advance option would see a reduction in their SNAP benefits.
The team created a webpage and estimator tool to help families and tax preparers learn more about the potential impact to their household, and to give them resources to make an informed decision.
The Deep Poverty Project was led by the department's cash assistance, food assistance and public health care programs, with consultation from Department of Revenue, Department of Health and faculty from the Humphrey School at University of Minnesota.
The goals of this initiative were to examine how living in deep poverty can lead to poor health and to identify opportunities to address deep poverty through the state's existing programs in order to improve health outcomes.
The final report of this work relied on interviews with people living in deep poverty and health care and social service providers, analysis of administrative data and published research. Outcomes of this project include:
- Program recommendations (pages 11-12 of final report) that have been included in the Governor's budget proposals
- Results from "The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation is Associated with Lower Health Care Spending among Working-age Adults without Dependents" study show health care costs among Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees are $100 lower on average when enrollees receive SNAP assistance.
Minnesota was selected to participate in the TANF Data Collaborative, an innovative approach to increasing data analytics capacity at state Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) agencies.
The department examined the use of sanctions in Minnesota’s TANF program, Minnesota Family Investment Program, in collaboration with Dakota and Olmsted counties, to better understand the relationship between NOITS rates and sanction rates and then to explore how NOITS and sanctions are associated with race, language, age, and immigration status. Read the research brief here.
Watch this video to hear staff from participating agencies (Minnesota staff featured at 4:30) describe their research questions and discuss building data capacity, integrating datasets, networking with other states, increasing collaboration between state and county agencies, learning new technical skills, and the benefits of being able to draw from diverse skillsets.
Minnesota Whole Family Systems Initiative is a partnership among state agencies, local organizations, communities and families to create system change across government to eliminate racial disparities in program access and outcomes, so all children and families can thrive together. The department grants funds to local organizations throughout Minnesota to engage families and communities in work that creates innovative program designs called "prototypes" to address racial disparities in human services and outcomes. Whole Family Systems focuses on approaches that enable and support the whole family to create meaningful and lasting change in all aspects of their lives: well-being, family preservation, housing, childcare, health and economic stability.
The final report of the 2-Gen Network covers the innovate administrative, funding and operation strategies used by the Department, the theoretical framework that guided the work and finally the work of the grantee sites and the program practice changes that resulted.
The Policy and Practice Barriers Study includes perspectives from 2-Gen Network members who are worked directly with families and communities.
Additional briefs cover the innovative program approaches and an analysis of administrative data related to the whole family systems work.
Whole Family Systems
- Gookonaanig Endaawaad “Grandma’s House” (PDF)
- Understanding Obstacles to Digital Equity in Minnesota (PDF)
- Whole Family Systems Initiative: City of Saint Paul (PDF)
2-Gen Network
- 2-Gen Network Projects 2017-2021: The Development, Implementation and Learning from Whole Family Approaches
- Policy and Practice Barriers Study: A Direct Service Perspective (PDF)
Innovative Approaches
- Collaborative evaluation by White Earth Nation and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (PDF)
- Using master leasing to support Olmsted County families (PDF)
- Presumptive eligibility for child care assistance: A 2-Gen Network Prototype (PDF)
Administrative Data Analysis
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
The Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) provides families with children cash and food assistance to help parents achieve financial stability through work. Parents are expected to work while participating in the program. Most families are limited to 60 months of program participation.
This report provides a snapshot of all active MFIP and DWP cases for the month and year listed.
- December 2023 (PDF)
- December 2022 (PDF)
- December 2021 (PDF)
- December 2020 (PDF)
- December 2019 (PDF)
- December 2018 (PDF)
- December 2017 (PDF)
- December 2016 (PDF)
- December 2015 (PDF)
- December 2014 (PDF)
- December 2013 (PDF)
- December 2012 (PDF)
- December 2011 (PDF)
This is a summary report on the first decade of MFIP, based on December reports from 1997 to 2006:
These indicators are quarterly data on state-mandated performance measures, by county, tribal providers and county consortia.
- January - March 2025 (PDF)
- October - December 2024 (PDF)
- July - September 2024 (PDF)
- April - June 2024 (PDF)
- January - March 2024 (PDF)
- October - December 2023 (PDF)
- July - September 2023 (PDF)
- April - June 2023 (PDF)
- January - March 2023 (PDF)
- October - December 2022 (PDF)
- July - September 2022 (PDF)
- April - June 2022 (PDF)
- January - March 2022 (PDF)
- October - December 2021 (PDF)
- July - September 2021 (PDF)
- April - June 2021 (PDF)
- January - March 2021 (PDF)
- October - December 2020 (PDF)
- July - September 2020 (PDF)
- April - June 2020 (PDF)
- January - March 2020 (PDF)
The MFIP Monthly Report Dashboard includes summary data by month for the program.
These are annual summaries on state-mandated performance measures for the Self-Support Index by county, tribal providers and county consortia.
- 2025 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2024 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2023 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2022 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2021 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2020 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2019 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2018 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2017 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2016 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
- 2015 MFIP Self-Support Index (PDF)
Annual data on Self-Support Index on racial/ethnic and immigrant groups within counties, tribal providers, and county consortia regions.
The Self-Support Index (S-SI) outcome measure is the percentage of caregivers (usually parents, or other relatives) eligible for MFIP or DWP in a baseline quarter who either are no longer receiving MFIP or DWP cash assistance or are working an average of 30 or more hours per week each month of the measurement quarter three years later. For example, the three year S-SI for the second quarter of 2024 reported outcomes during that quarter for the cohort eligible during the second quarter of 2021. Those who left MFIP after reaching 60 counted MFIP months (time limit), and those who left due to 100% sanction, are only counted as successful on the measure if they worked an average of 30 hours per week in their last month of program eligibility, or began receiving Supplemental Security Income after MFIP or DWP cash ended
This measure is produced quarterly at one year, two years and three years from baseline, for the state, counties, tribes and consortia administering MFIP. The three-year S-SI has a related standard called the range of expected performance used to make better, fairer comparisons across service areas and tribal providers. Performance is assessed as above, within or below the range of expected performance, an interval based on caseload characteristics and economic conditions in each service area. More challenging situations lower the expected range. Providers cannot influence the size or location of the range of expected performance because this interval is calculated from regressions predicting success on the S-SI based on demographic and economic characteristics beyond the control of service areas and providers. No measures of service or provider characteristics are predictors in the regression. Providers can influence the S-SI through services that help MFIP and DWP participants increase employment and earnings.
- Self-Support Index: Future Work, DHS-7355B (PDF)
Published 2020
- Self-Support Index: Recommended Changes to the Model, DHS-7355A (PDF)
Published 2020
- MFIP Self-Support Index Methodology Update, DHS-6724A (PDF)
Published 2017
- Leveling the Playing Field: A Regression Model for Comparing the Effectiveness of TANF Employment Services Across Minnesota Counties and Tribal Programs, DHS-4064U (PDF)
Published 2009
- Updated Information on the MFIP Self-Support Index, DHS-4060O (PDF)
Published 2006
The department conducted a five-year study following nearly 2,000 early Minnesota Family Investment Program participants.
- Five Years From Baseline and Beyond, DHS-4450K (PDF)
Published 2008
- Four Years After Baseline, DHS-4450J (PDF)
Published 2005
- Three Years After Baseline, DHS-4450I (PDF)
Published 2003
- Special Report on Teen Mothers, DHS-4450H (PDF)
Published 2003
- Approaching the 60-Month Time Limit, DHS-4450G (PDF)
Published 2002
- Two Years After Baseline, DHS-4450F (PDF)
Published 2002
- Special Report on Health Care Access Among Welfare Leavers 18 Months After Baseline, DHS-4450E (PDF)
Published 2002
- One Year After Baseline, DHS-4450D (PDF)
Published 2000
- Baseline Report, DHS-4450A (PDF)
Published 1999
This is a supplemental report on Diversionary Work Program.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps Minnesotans with low incomes, including temporary low incomes, get the food they need for nutritious and well-balanced meals. The program provides extra support on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to help stretch a household's food budget and is not meant to cover all the groceries a family needs.
This report provides a snapshot of all active SNAP cases for the month and year listed.
- SNAP Calendar Year 2025 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2025 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2024 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2024 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2023 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2023 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2022 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2022 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2021 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2021 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2020 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2020 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2019 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2019 (XLS)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2018 (PDF)
- SNAP Calendar Year 2018 (XLS)
The Speak up for SNAP campaign was established in response to the major program changes proposed by the Federal Government in 2025. The goal is to provide clear and consistent information about SNAP's impact in Minnesota.
Research and Evaluation
Short reports on economic assistance in Minnesota.
- Expanding SNAP access during the COVID-19 emergency (PDF)
Published 2024
- TANF Youth Innovation Project, DHS-7876 (PDF)
Published 2019
- Minnesota Family Investment Program: Racial Equity Project Preliminary findings for a 2014-2016 MFIP Innovation Project, DHS-7629 (PDF)
Published 2017
- Minnesota Family Investment Program: Work Study Jobs Initiative, DHS-3804 (PDF)
Published 2017
- Minnesota Family Investment Program Teen Parent Single-point-of-contact Model, DHS-6215 (PDF)
Published 2016
- The Four Rs of Service Delivery for MFIP Teen Parents: Approaches of Eight Minnesota Counties, DHS-6517 (PDF)
Published 2012
- Minnesota Family Investment Program and Children’s Mental Health Pilot Evaluation, DHS-6100 (PDF)
Published 2010
- Family Stabilization Services for MFIP Participants: Data from the first year, DHS-4064V (PDF)
Published 2010
- Racial disparities in the Minnesota Family Investment Program, DHS-4064S (PDF)
Published 2009
- Minnesota Family Investment Program Child-only Cases, Caregivers and Children, DHS-6193 (PDF)
Published 2009
- Employability Measure Pilot Study Final Report DHS-4966, (PDF)
Published 2007
- The Diversionary Work Program: Caseload and Cost Impact, DHS-4064P (PDF)
Published 2006
- Provider Perspectives on the Issues Behind the Outcomes, DHS-4262F (PDF)
Published 2003
- Report to the Minnesota Legislature: Proposal for a County Performance Measurement System for the Minnesota Family Investment Program, DM-0106 (PDF)
- LIGSS (Local Intervention Grants for Self-Sufficiency): Lessons Learned, DM-0097 (PDF)
Published 2003
Find fact sheets about adoption, foster care, child care, child protection, child support, and economic assistance programs in Minnesota. These resources provide key information to support families, providers, and partners across the state.
Other program information
Family Self-Sufficiency and Health Care Program Statistics on Cases, Persons and Expenditures gives statewide data for a series of 10 annual and 13 monthly periods for cash, food and medical programs. The report is based on the month the payment was received. Contact DHS.ReportsAndForecasts@state.mn.us for more information.
Minnesota’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS) is a tool that combines data collected by the state departments of Education, Human Services, and Health into one online, interactive database. The system shows population level results related to children's growth and achievement in relation to their participation in a variety of educational and social programs over time. The Kindergarten Reports Economic and Food Assistance Measures reflect the portion of Minnesota’s kindergartener’s and early childhood learners in public programs who are in households participating in MFIP or DWP or receiving SNAP.
Subscribe
Sign up for the Research, Reports and Evaluation Newsletter.